New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the college and administration buildings of Jhansi-based Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, a prominent institute of the Bundelkhand region, via video conferencing.
PM Modi said the new buildings would improve the education infrastructure, contribute to research in agriculture and help farmers.
Inaugurating College and Admin Buildings of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi. https://t.co/RUdfhvKGfQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 29, 2020
Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath were present at the event.
After the inauguration, the Prime Minister interacted with university students and asked about ways to address certain challenges like reducing import of edible oils and increasing food processing, especially in fruits and vegetables.
“Be it drone technology, artificial intelligence technology, modern agricultural equipment, young researchers and scientists like you will have to work continuously to make it more and more useful in the country’s agriculture,” PM Modi said.
He pointed out that there was just one central agricultural university in the country six years ago and now there are three across the country. Apart from this, three more national institutes are being established at Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Integrated Farming at IARI-Jharkhand, IARI-Assam, and Motihari, he added.
The Prime Minister said that it is also necessary to take education related to agriculture and its practical application to schools. Efforts are being made to introduce the subject of agriculture at the middle school level at the village level, he added.
“There will be two benefits from this. One benefit will be that the natural understanding associated with farming in children of the village will be expanded. The second benefit will be that they will be able to give more information to their family about farming and related technology, trade and business,” he said.
The RLB Central Agriculture University, a prominent institute of the Bundelkhand region, started its first academic session in 2014-15. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
It is currently operating from the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute as the main buildings were getting ready.
-CHK
